Code Perspective

This is an interesting question… Currently we have been given a project in which the back end of the database is provided along with screenshots of all the screens we are allowed to “use”. I find this method extremely limiting to students when it comes to developing abilities “outside the box”. Should students not be allowed to develop their own ideas and thought processes when it comes to programming? Potentially focusing on design and development, and work side by side with technical aspects of the language?

In my opinion concentrating on both design aspects and technical programming concepts will lead to a greater IT work force. How in industry today can you expect perfection in programs from students who are not taught that in school? When they come out then it is left to the employers to teach design, and good technical programming concepts and let’s be honest, they just do not have the time or the resources to do that. So in fact good design principles and practices need to be forced at the school level to ensure a better IT work force when students get into industry and are ready to jump right in!

On a side note, as a proposal, what is there was time set aside during school, for credits, for project work on your own? Google is a great example of this allowing a single day a week for their employees to work on projects of their own or even to go and help the community. And again, they write some of the best code in the world. This is something that could be potentially adopted at the school level to promote creativity and a passion for coding!

Cheers